Organophosphate pesticides phosmet and chlorpyrifos effects on JEG-3 cells survival and inflammatory molecules production: a comparative study

NATALIA GUIñAZú; VIVIANA RENA; SUSANA GENTI-RAIMONDI; VIRGINIA RIVERO; GLADIS MAGNARELLI

TOXICOLOGY IN VITRO : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH BIBRA.

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2012

0887-2333

Epidemiological data have associated environmental organophosphate pesticide (OP) exposure during pregnancy with fetal growth deficits. To better understand OP injury that may adversely affect pregnancy, we used the JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cell line, which provide a recognized in vitro model to study placental function. The effects of the OPs phosmet (Pm) and chlorpyrifos (Cp) on JEG-3 cells viability, proliferation, cell cycle and inflammatory molecule production were evaluated. Both pesticides affected cellular viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, inducing apoptosis and decreasing [3H]-thymidine incorporation. However, only Pm reduced DNA synthesis independently of cellular death and decreased the cell percentage at the S-phase. Unlike apoptosis, TNFá production varied with the concentration tested, suggesting that other TNFá independent mechanisms might trigger cell death. No induction of the inflammatory molecule nitric oxide was detected. The mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory IL-6, IL-17 and the anti-inflammatory IL-13 cytokines were differentially modulated. These findings indicate that Pm and Cp generate a specific toxicity signature, altering cell viability and inducing a proinflammatory cytokine profile, suggesting that trophoblasts may represent a possible target for OP adverse effects.